Morocco was struck by an earthquake this morning.
While the death toll is currently at 820, this number will only continue to climb.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Morocco earthquake.
Morocco Struck By Strongest Earthquake Since 2004, Leaving 820 Dead Thus Far
In Morocco, just after 11 pm on Friday (8 September) (6 am on Saturday, Singapore time), a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Morocco’s High Atlas mountains.
This is the strongest earthquake to have ever struck Morocco since at least 2004.
That puts this earthquake on the list of record-breaking phenomenons that have happened in the past month—Hong Kong just experienced its heaviest rains in 140 years.
820 were found dead, with more than 672 people injured, including 205 in serious condition.
Regardless, it appears that the death toll will only continue to rise, given that most deaths were in mountainous areas which are difficult to reach.
Rescue efforts are ongoing.
The earthquake struck the Ighil area of the High Atlas mountains, home to small farming villages about 70 km from the Moroccan city of Marrakech.
Not great news, given that Marrakech is due to be the host location of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank’s annual meetings this coming October.
Talk about bad timing.
Houses Collapsed & Buildings Damaged
To say that the earthquake’s impact is devastating would be an understatement.
Countless houses collapsed when the quake struck, and dozens of other buildings were damaged.
People reported chandeliers falling off their ceilings and doors opening and shutting on their own.
In the heart of Marrakech’s old city, a mosque minaret in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Jemaa el-Fna Square fell.
For the sua ku ones, the minaret is the tower typically built into or adjacent to mosques to project the Muslim call to prayer.
And with their houses collapsed, many Morrocan residents fled and spent the night in the open. Other residents are also staying in the open, fearing that their homes might be the next to crumble.
Residents in nearby towns like Rabat, Imsouane and Casablanca have fled their homes.
It doesn’t help that many houses around the earthquake’s epicentre are old.
“I still can’t sleep in the house because of the shock and also because the old town is made up of old houses. If one falls, it will cause others to collapse,” one resident of Marrakech’s old city shared.
To make things worse, most houses in villages affected by the earthquake have also collapsed.
“Our neighbours are under the rubble and people are working hard to rescue them using available means in the village,” a resident of the mountain village of Asni shared.
Responses to the Morocco Earthquake
Morroco’s Interior Ministry has since urged residents to stay calm, sharing that the earthquake has hit the province of Al Haouz, Ouarzazate, Marrakech, Azilal, Chichaoua and Taroudant thus far.
The UN has also since announced that the organisation is prepared to support the Moroccan government in assisting those affected by the deadly quake.
It’s all hands on deck to help Morocco—even Syria’s White Helmets search and rescue group has offered to assist Morocco in “rescu[ing] those trapped under the rubble”.
Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) has also placed 265 members of medical, relief, and search and rescue agencies on alert to assist Morocco.
The UK Foreign Minister James Cleverly has also offered to “help our Moroccan friends in whatever way we can”.
Governments worldwide, including India and the UK, have expressed their condolences.
“Extremely pained by the loss of lives due to an earthquake in Morocco … India is ready to offer all possible assistance to Morocco in this difficult time,” Narendra Modi, the Indian Prime Minister, shared on X, formerly known as Twitter.
2004 Al Hoceima Earthquake in Morocco
The last time such a deathly earthquake hit Morocco was in 2004.
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the coast of northern Morocco, causing more than 600 deaths and 926 injuries.
After the earthquake, nearly 15,000 people lost their homes in the Al Hoceima-Imozourene-Beni Abdallah area.
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